CODE 18-77
Mr Stone
HKD
Ra
Reference..
Ji Chaozhu
Amb
uk.
HKB 060/1
BY
5
GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY
1.
SIVE
conversation9th
In the course of a telephone conversation with Sarah Helm of the Independent, she informed me that it was highly likely that she would join the Goddess of Democracy in Singapore on Saturday. She led me to understand that she would not be the only British journalist on board and that there may even be a British television
crew.
2.
The Goddess of Democracy will be making its way to Chinese waters early next week. Apparently it passes through the Spratly Islands which the Chinese claim and could spell danger for the ship. Apparently the ship has asked the US Navy for protection. It is not known if there has been a response to this request.
3. I told Miss Helm that I thought this venture was foolhardy given that the Chinese had made it clear that they would take "appropriate measures" against the ship if it started broadcasting anti-Chinese propaganda. She did appear somewhat concerned at this but thought they would not go as far as to actually blow it out of the water but would be more likely to tow it into a Chinese port. I think in fact this is what the journalists are rather hoping, otherwise they would probably not get much of a story.
4. The best thing the Chinese could do would be to let the ship sit in international waters and do nothing or at least not take any military action against it. I imagine they have enough jamming equipment to nullify the ship's transmitters. The journalists will not have a story if the ship simply sits there for weeks on end with them all getting sea-sick. If the Chinese take action against it then the world will witness this and of course it will be heralded as a mini Tiananmen.
wie did cas speak
with yells day. yesterday,
25 April 1990
CC: Mr Seaton, FED
Ian what chead
I R Whitehead News Department E022
270 3100